A muscular 6-6, he was a talented tight end who could block down on a defensive end or stretch a defense with his long strides.

Some of you might remember him rambling downfield for an 84-yard touchdown in a huge win at Penn State in 1984 that propelled Texas to the No. 1 national ranking.

In 116 years of UT football, that is the longest reception by a Longhorns tight end. Harris’ 637 receiving yards that season, his sophomore campaign, are a school record as well. Twenty-five years and a host of newfangled passing attacks later, no tight end has moved the chains for Texas like Harris.

Disease takes a toll

Harris can’t move ’em like he once did. He can’t run past defenders, knock down would-be tacklers or score those crowd-pleasing touchdowns.

But Harris is proving to be stronger now than he was when he could do those amazing things on the football field.

Timothy McCray, who like Harris played at Smiley High School before heading to Austin for college, said a prognosis that his longtime friend might have only one year to live was difficult to accept. As has been the case for much of their lives, Harris showed him the way.

Two years later, Harris is still showing him the way.

Mentally strong

“He was my hero at Smiley — the reason I went to UT was to follow him — and we’ve been like brothers, with me looking up to him,” McCray said. “It hurts to see him in this situation, to lose his independence. But he’s accepting of it. His strong mental state is still there. He laughs and jokes and can have good time. He is much better in this situation than most would be, but that’s the type of person he is.

“He’s my hero.”

Up to 310 with some added pounds relative to his playing days, Harris not all that long ago was able to work in the low post at Fonde Recreation Center. Now he has lost some 70 pounds and is wheelchair-bound.

Harris, drafted in the seventh round by the Cardinals in 1987, played three seasons in the NFL. Married to his high school sweetheart Jocelyn, he has two daughters; Mercedez attends Sam Houston State, and Alexcia is a standout athlete finishing her junior year at Dekaney High.

McCray has organized a benefit party for his hero Saturday at Guest House Inn & Suites (125 W. Airtex @ I-45North), and there is a special account set up at Chase Bank (The William Harris Trust Fund, account No. 2923721415). McCray hopes to raise enough money so that Harris’ home can be remodeled to better fit his physical limitations.

As you would expect, Longhorns are stepping up to help one of their own.

Washington assistant coach and Texas teammate Jerry Gray, the MVP of that 1984 squad, sent signed jerseys from Redskins Brian Orakpo and Clinton Portis that will be sold in a silent auction or given away as door prizes at the Saturday function.